It will, however, continue its close relationship with Microsoft.

Sega’s COO Declares Company Not Open to Acquisition

Sanjay PatilJuly 1, 23FTC, Gaming, Microsoft

Sega’s Chief Operating Officer, Shuji Utsumi, has stated that the company is not up for sale. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Utsumi clarified that Sega is currently not considering any acquisition discussions, despite widespread rumors suggesting that Microsoft may intervene and merge Sonic and Master Chief. Some of these rumors surfaced due to the general trend of consolidation in the gaming industry, with big fish gobbling up everything in sight. Microsoft is one of the bigger fish and it’s been many years since Sega took the gaming throne despite…

Samsung has expanded its lineup of Odyssey gaming monitor series in India with the launch of two new Odyssey G9 monitors, featuring ultra-wide 49-inch QHD 240Hz OLED panels.

Samsung Unveils Odyssey G9 OLED Gaming Monitors In India With 240Hz Refresh Rate: See Price, Features

Adarsh V.KJune 30, 23Games, Gaming, Samsung

Samsung has introduced two new models, the Odyssey G9 G95SC and G9 G93SC, to its 2023 lineup of Odyssey gaming monitors in India. Featuring ultra-wide 49-inch QHD 240Hz OLED panels with DisplayHDR True Black 400 and 1800R curvature, these monitors are designed for high-end apps and games. Samsung Odyssey G9: Specifications and Features Both screens of the Samsung Odyssey G9 series have 49-inch QHD OLED panels with an aspect ratio of 32:9; supports 240 Hz refresh rate, 0.03 ms response time and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The G9 G95SC, on…

Only detected or suspected hackers can see and interact with these 'hallucinations.'

Call of Duty Employs Clones of Real Players to Combat Cheaters

Jim HendlerJune 30, 23activision, Call of Duty, Gaming

Activision has implemented various strategies in its ongoing struggle against Call of Duty cheaters, ranging from obstructing their ability to spot targets to confiscating their weapons. The most recent action taken by the developers is among the initial measures aimed at countering Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 hackers who employ prohibited tools, such as wallhacks, to gain an unfair advantage by acquiring additional information. When Activision’s systems detect or suspect cheaters, a “hallucination” can be activated. These do not affect legitimate players at all and are designed to disrupt…

It was one of Engadget's favorite games last year.

‘Stray’, a Cyberpunk Cat Adventure, to Launch on Xbox on August 10th

Sanjay PatilJune 30, 23Gaming, xbox

Annapurna Interactive has revealed that the adorable and highly acclaimed game of 2022, Stray, will be making its way to Xbox. Blue Twelve Studio’s Stray is set to release on Xbox One and Series X/S on August 10th, as announced today. Stray, for those who don’t know, casts you as an adorable tabby cat in a cyberpunk post-human world. This short and sweet adventure only takes about five to 10 hours, but will leave you thinking about its thought-provoking and touching story long after the credits roll. It’s also one…

You'll explore worlds within worlds in this project from former 'Inside' developers.

‘Cocoon’ – A Recursive Puzzle Adventure Game – Set to Launch on September 29th

Adriana MaraisJune 30, 23Games, Gaming

The puzzle game genre is experiencing a remarkable year with the exceptional releases of Humanity and the mind-boggling Viewfinder. Adding to the excitement, a new game called Cocoon has recently been announced and showcased at Summer Game Fest, garnering significant attention. Publisher Annapurna Interactive has revealed that Cocoon will be available on various platforms, including PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, starting from September 29th. Additionally, the game will also be accessible through Game Pass. This is the first project from Geometric Interactive, founded by…

Keita Takahashi's studio, Uvula, collaborated with AbleGamers on the project.

Coming-of-Age Game ‘To a T’ Follows the Journey of a T-Posing Teenager

Febin MathewJune 30, 23Gaming

In the game called “In to a T,” players are tasked with controlling a teenage character who is unable to lower their arms from a T-shaped position. This character, known as Teen, explores a typical seaside town with their faithful dog, while also facing off against bullies and uncovering the advantages of their distinctive posture. The game’s trailer suggests that the ability to fly may be a significant advantage of having T-shaped arms. The game is an episodic 3D adventure with a rounded cartoon art style familiar to anyone who…

The highly stylized action-adventure RPG delves into culture, relationships and family pressures.

Compete Against Former Flames in ‘Thirsty Suitors’ on November 2nd

Jim HendlerJune 30, 23Games, Gaming

The Thirsty Suitors trailer from Annapurna Interactive concludes with the catchy tagline: “Engage in battles with your former partners, defy your parents’ expectations, and discover your true self.” This statement clearly indicates that the upcoming game is taking a unique and unconventional approach. Annapurna and Outerloop Games have recently revealed that this cross-platform RPG, which revolves around the theme of returning home and reconciling with past chaos, will be released on November 2nd. Originally released in 2021, Thirsty Suitors takes you into the world of Jala, who returns to the…

It's heading to Android and iOS with a batch of free DLC.

Netflix to Release Indie Video Game ‘Storyteller’

Jim HendlerJune 30, 23Android, Gaming, iOS

Storyteller, a game centered around writing, word puzzles, and the intricate stories we create to cope with daily life, will be available for Android and iOS through Netflix starting September 26th. Annapurna Interactive published Storyteller, which was released on Switch and PC on March 23rd after an extensive development period of over ten years. Solo creator Daniel Benmergui announced Storyteller in 2011, and the game’s prototype actually won the Nuovo Award for Innovation at the Game Developers Conference in 2012. After that, life happened and Benmergui stopped working on Storyteller…

It's the first game developed by publisher Annapurna Interactive.

New Video Game Set Between ‘Blade Runner’ Movies Announced: ‘Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth

Adriana MaraisJune 30, 23Games, Gaming

Annapurna Interactive is currently working on a game inspired by the renowned science fiction movie Blade Runner. The game takes place in the time period between the original Blade Runner film and its sequel, Blade Runner 2049. This provides players with the opportunity to discover what Deckard, the main character, was up to before his encounter with Ryan Gosling in an abandoned casino or similar setting. Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth follows the Blade Runners – their ID name hidden from the trailer – as they explore a mysterious place called…

It’s also canceling ‘NBA All-World’ and ‘Marvel: World of Heroes.’

Niantic to Cut 230 Jobs as ‘Pokémon Go’ Developer Downsizes

Adriana MaraisJune 30, 23AR, augmented reality, Gaming, Layoffs, Pokemon Go

Niantic is set to join the growing number of companies downsizing their workforce. Following the leak of an internal memo to Kotaku, the studio has released an official “organizational update” revealing plans to lay off 230 employees. Furthermore, Niantic will be closing its Los Angeles studio and discontinuing two licensed games, namely NBA All-World and Marvel: World of Heroes. However, fans can take solace in the fact that Pokémon Go, the company’s main product, will continue to thrive. “I’ve made the decision to narrow our focus on mobile gaming investments…

Thousands of games are discounted until July 13th

Steam Summer Sale Offers Discount of up to $130 on Steam Deck

Nitin MisraJune 30, 23Games, Gaming, Steam

The Steam Summer Sale is currently underway, offering a tempting offer for those who have been hesitant to purchase a Steam Deck. In addition to a vast selection of games, the device itself is available at a discounted price until July 13th. The 64GB model has been reduced by 10 percent, now priced at $359.10, while the version with 256GB of faster NVMe storage is now $449.65, a 15 percent discount from the original price. Furthermore, the 512GB variant, which features an anti-glare screen, is now 20 percent off, priced…

2023 might be the biggest year for the genre since the '90s.

Fighting-Game Fans Rejoice – It’s a Great Time to be a Gamer!

Febin MathewJune 29, 23Gaming

Since the early days of video games, competition has always been a part of the gaming experience, with players striving to leave their mark on digital scoreboards. The fighting game genre emerged in the 1970s, but it was not until the release of Street Fighter 2 in the 1990s that the genre truly reached new heights. Since then, numerous influential series like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. have made significant contributions to this genre. While fighting games may never have the same mass-market appeal they did in the…

You'll finally be able to transfer your progress from one year's edition to the next.

Female Soccer Clubs to be Included in Football Manager in 2024

Sanjay PatilJune 29, 23Football, Gaming, Sports, Unity

Sports Interactive announced in 2021 its plans to include women’s soccer in the popular simulation game, Football Manager. Now, the company has provided more details on the timeline for this addition. In a recent blog post discussing the future of the franchise, Sports Interactive confirmed that women’s teams will be introduced in Football Manager 2025, the upcoming edition set to release next year. The studio initially said it would take some time to bring women’s soccer to market because it wanted to offer the same depth as the men’s game.…

They’ll be available starting July 4th.

PlayStation Plus Subscribers to Receive ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’ and ‘Alan Wake Remastered’ for Free in July

Adriana MaraisJune 29, 23Alan Wake, Call of Duty, Gaming, PlayStation

Today, Sony revealed the lineup of games for PlayStation Plus in July. The games featured are Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Alan Wake Remastered, and Endling – Extinction is Forever. Subscribers on the Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers will have access to these titles on both PS5 and PS4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) is a controversial installment in the long-running military shooter series. Set in the early 1980s, its plot borrows from a well-known (and largely unsubstantiated) real-world conspiracy theory about a Soviet spy…

Other Sega standouts include ‘The Revenge of Shinobi’ and ‘Crusader of Centy.'

Four Classic Sega Genesis Titles Now Available on Nintendo Switch Online

Adarsh V.KJune 29, 23Gaming, Nintendo Switch, Nitendo

Four classic Sega Genesis titles have been added to the Nintendo Switch Online library, making it even more extensive. Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, The Revenge of Shinobi, Landstalker, and Crusader of Centy are now available on the subscription-based platform, joining approximately 30 existing Genesis games and numerous releases from NES, SNES, and Game Boy. This means that Sonic and Mario, two iconic characters, are now part of the same gaming universe. For the uninitiated, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is a hardcore platformer that still gives nightmares to adults of a certain age.…

He is the king of disasters, after all.

Roland Emmerich Developing Shared Universe of TV, Gaming and Web3 Content

Jim HendlerJune 29, 23Games, Gaming

Renowned filmmaker Roland Emmerich has revealed his latest project, Space Nation Online, an exciting multiplayer online game (MMO) that incorporates the popular and controversial NFTs. Emmerich, known for directing blockbuster films like Independence Day and Stargate, aims to create a vast shared universe that includes animated shorts, a live-action TV series, and various elements of Web3 technology. For that, there’s a bile-inducing page detailing the tokenomics surrounding “Web3 Space Opera MMO” if you want to throw away your money on a procedurally generated image of a starship or whatever. According…

Not bad for a PlayStation 5 exclusive.

‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Breaks Record with Over 3 Million Copies Sold

Adriana MaraisJune 29, 23Final Fantasy, Games, Gaming

Since its release on June 22, Final Fantasy XVI, a PS5 exclusive with a darker tone, has sold over three million units. This impressive sales figure is even more notable considering the game’s limited availability on a single console. In comparison, Final Fantasy XV, a multi-platform title available on both PS4 and Xbox One, sold five million copies during its launch week in 2016. Square Enix says this three million figure represents both digital and physical sales worldwide. This falls slightly short of the recent FF7 version, which sold 3.5…

Say hello to Bloober 3.0.

Bloober Team Completes Production of Psychological Horror Games

Febin MathewJune 29, 23Games, Gaming, Konami

Bloober Team’s latest release, the remastered and expanded Layers of Fear collection, quietly signaled the conclusion of their era known as Bloober Team 2.0. This psychological horror game, which was not openly promoted as their final project, marked the end of this phase for the studio. “This year is like closing an era of making psychological horror games,” studio founder Piotr Babieno told ReturnByte. “Right now we’re transitioning to Bloober Team 3.0 and making mass market horror.” Bloober doesn’t abandon horror as a whole, but it shifts the focus. Over…

You can sign up to playtest the game this week.

‘Project Loki’ Combines Elements of ‘League of Legends’ and ‘Fortnite’

Jim HendlerJune 28, 23Games, Gaming

Joe Tung, who led development on League of Legends for almost eight years, left Riot at the end of 2020 to establish Theorycraft Games. The studio, consisting of individuals who have contributed to popular games such as League, Valorant, Overwatch, Halo, Destiny, and Apex Legends, has been diligently working on their inaugural project, known as Project Loki. Until now, only a select few content creators and professional gamers have had the opportunity to play Loki. However, this is about to change as Theorycraft has announced a two-day PC playtest, commencing…

The rail shooter game originally came out last year.

‘Air Twister’ to Launch on PC and Console Platforms After Debut on Apple Arcade

Adriana MaraisJune 28, 23Apple Arcade, Gaming, PC

ININ Games has recently announced that the popular rail shooter game, Air Twister, will now be available on various gaming platforms including PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC. Originally released exclusively for Apple Arcade in 2022, fans of the game can now enjoy playing it on their preferred consoles. Air Twister is the brainchild of Yu Suzuki, who designed classic hits like Out Run, Virtua Fighter and Space Harrier, and follows Princess Archie on a mission to prevent the total destruction of her planet (no pressure). Suzuki cites Air…